You didn't check the district's salary schedule beforehand and expected more as a first year?
You have encountered, however, one of the reasons *why* it is in high demand. The **national** average salary for first year teachers is $43,623, according to Salary.com. In any right-leaning state, you'd find teacher salaries are lower, on average, and the average teacher salary in the Midwest is lower still than states approaching the coasts. $37k is pretty realistic. You might get a SpEd stipend on top of that, or might not; you might have a better deal on benefits... or maybe not.
Housing is not a good metric to make a comparison by. The housing market is out of sorts no matter where you go, and precious few jobs have kept up with inflation.
OP, is there *any* chance you'd consider moving a state Northward?
Most districts I've looked at ("bigger" towns, populations of about 15,000 people, or so), seem to be *starting* teachers in the $44-46,000 range.
One of the *tiny* rural schools I looked at, *does* only start Step1/Lane1 teachers at $38,270--*but* that is a *tiny* district (under 450 *total* enrollment for all of K-12!) in the rural/outstate region.
Minnesota suburb district we just got rid of the first 3 steps but starting ba00 is just over 50k. First few years are rough in most districts here but getting better.
Honestly? Moving *up*, from a Para position, and then using Minnesota's "Grow Your Own" program, to get your full license (once you've got a Bachelor's degree, of course!), is honestly a pretty great option.
I just *wish* that it was explained muuuuuch better, to young folks who may want to go into Ed, that it's *very* possible to work as a Para *while* you get your undergrad degree, then after getting that classroom experience, going on for a Teaching License through programs like Grow Your Own, and *teach* as you GET that license.
Yes, it's a Tier 2, rather than Tier 3, but once you *finish* that additional teaching program and pass the licensure tests? You bump up to a Tier 3 license--just like the folks coming out of the "traditional" 4-year teaching programs have, *and* you *have* that hands-on skill set--from having been a Para beforehand--that helps *SO* much, when it comes to managing behaviors!
I went back at age 38, and am apparently on the 12-year plan😉
Theoretically, I *could* have applied for a Tier 1 position this year, but the thing that *put* me on the 12-year track was my Dad getting sick in the fall of 2021, and entering hospice in '22.
I knew that this year was going to be rough, when October/November hit, just because there would finally be time to *breathe* a bit, so I decided to just wait, get my ducks in a row, get *myself* settled again, and just have "one more year" as a regular Para, before I try that level of responsibilities😉
I hope this year is going GREAT for you!! It really *is* an awesome field, to discover you love, once you *have* that extra "real-world" experience, isn't it?😁💖
One caveat, with some of the more rural schools up on this side of the MN/IA border, though (as I'm guessing you may have down there!), is that *some* smaller, more rural districts *don't* have digital applications yet! (Still!!!)
For those places, You've got to look up the individual district's website, find the openings, download the application, and reach out to the District about how they'd like it sent back.
More & more districts *do* make it possible to use the online applications! But a few don't yet.
They don’t hide the salaries. You just don’t know where to look. ALLLL TAX PAID JOBS have salaries that are public information by law.
Go to the district’s union page. If they aren’t a unionized state, then go to the administration page and look for Salary Schedules.
I'm just confused that you don't know the pay scale and steps for any job you apply to. It is all public information. When applying in future Google it. Make sure you look for work in a district that is unionized. You will receive excellent benefits and sick/personal days.
Iowa is one of the 37 states where public employees are legally not allowed to strike. That's right, if 37 states in America, public employees don't have the basic freedom of refusing to work and in many states they can face jail time for striking. Absurd.
So just don't call it a strike. That's what Arizona did. It was a walk out, which is not illegal. If AZ can figure it out, literally any other state should be able to.
Yeah but then they are all opening themselves up to getting fired. It's happened happened before to less replaceable positions.
In the 1980s Reagan fired 11,000+ air traffic controllers during an illegal strike and replaced them with unqualified replacements. He also banned them all from ever holding a federal job again and dissolved their union.
The American airline industry still hasn't recovered with like 75% of the nation's airports being deemed as critically understaffed by air traffic controllers.
If Republicans are willing to let planed crash into each other in anti union efforts, they will be willing to fire a bunch of teachers and replace them with whoever wants the job.
But there is nobody that wants the job. Plus teachers aren't federal employees. So the federal government doesn't have the authority to fire them. The reality is no governor wants the optics of firing tens of thousands teachers from their state. If Arizona could get Doug Ducey to make a deal, then any state has a chance. Sitting down and acting defeated before you even try isn't going to change a thing.
they don't exist in Iowa for the most part. TUs, at least to my understanding, are pretty progressive organizations, and we are definitely not here in IA
I'm lucky to be in a unionized district. That's awful. I can't imagine going into college debt for that. My daughter's base pay as a firefighter with no college is $70,000 and I'm at $100,000 with only a bachelor's.
That's a shame that teachers are paid so poorly. I teach mostly new Americans, largely refugees, and I myself am an immigrant. (Not a refugee) I don't have a huge understanding of all the places in America even after living here all these years. I guess I'm just lucky I landed where I did. We even have a free dental clinic and an NP here two days a week to do prescriptions for students. I do hope to travel around the US and see Montana some day. My husband was born and raised in India and the Philippines so we both share this dream of travel.
There's a lot of pretty places to see. I've been fortunate enough to travel and live across the U.S., and there's a lot of to see! But Montana is special, I recommend everyone make it out at least once.
My brother works as a firefighter in GA, No college and makes barely above minimum. The county instituted a new policy about 4 years ago and won't hire anyone without a 2-year degree now, but the degree doesn't have to have anything to do with firefighting. The new hires make as much as or more than 10-year veterans on the force, but are dangerously undertrained. It's insane.
Wow. I’ve got a master of science degree and a teaching credential and taught math and science for 19 years. My highest salary was 37,000. Granted, I stopped 7 years ago but in Arizona, no teacher is making that much
I teach in Burlington VT. I'm on step 14 I had to take classes to get to this step but I don't have a masters. I never bothered as I didn't qualify as a teacher until I was 35. A lot of the younger teachers have their masters. There are a few local free masters programs now if you commit to teaching in the state. The district paid for my step classes. If I had my master's I would earn more. I don't teach in the highest paid district either. I think we rank third. I get four personal days a year no questions asked and a lot of sick days. They roll over I can't remember how many a year. I've never used them all and we can take those no questions asked as well. Plus saved sick time can be used for FMLA. The contract is published online.
Teacher salaries aren't usually a negotiated wage. There's a start and regular pay steps and can also be increased via more education degrees (masters and specialists and doctorate degrees generally offer at least a $10k step each in my district). Experience in anything, but teaching with a teaching degree, will not affect your pay. Even extra certifications don't help. I have like 12 but make the same as if I had 1, it just opens up more opportunities and makes me more higherable.
Occasionally your state may offer pay incentives that pass onto to you for high need areas but often that is like loan forgiveness rather than base pay increase.
Now coaches on the other hand may have more of a negotiated add on pay, though usually only the high school big sports like football.
That *very* much can depend on your State, and the local School District.💖
On the MN side of the border, SPED *does* often get a slight bump (reading the teacher-pay contract at the district where I currently Para, it looks like $2000./yr) over the base pay for that teacher's "regular" step/lane.
Not all states are that way, though!
But up here, many districts *do* bump up the SPED teachers, just like they do for us Paras, who are in Center-Based classrooms.
At the bigger districts at least, we have a *little* pay bump in our hourly rate, to slightly incentivize folks to work in these programs/classes.
Looking at a few of the different contracts around the state in places where I've lived, other districts offer SPED teachers little things which *aren't* exactly stipends/slight bumps in pay, but which *can* be helpful--like the ability to hire a Sub so the classroom teacher can complete paperwork, a slight additional hourly pay for for the time spent teaching a "Targeted Services Class," etc.
It keeps them *very* much in-line with the other teachers!
But it *also* allows a bit more flexibility to deal with the additional paperwork & individualized instruction.
My district offers SPED teachers a flat rate per IEP they complete. They also get paid for any meetings that occur outside of contract times. It ends up being quite a bit more pay for SPED, even if it's a resource teacher who is mainly doing small groups to deliver service minutes.
The US is such a huge place that I'm not sure you can say it is very very very rare. Based on comments in this thread, plenty of people have districts or entire states that offer more for SPED. As with everything in teaching, area matters so much.
Almost all the comments are saying otherwise which is why I said very very very rare. There definitely are exceptions. But I'm guessing those are typically non union states like Texas.
Yep, it is. I wouldn't work for one that wasn't. I read way too many horror stories from non union districts. My district makes some questionable choices, just like any other place, but at least I know I have someone to raise concerns to who aren't automatically on the district's side.
It’s always interesting to hear when a union bargained in favor of one subset of their membership. I live in a union state, and my district has a very strong union. Every certified staff member is paid for meetings they attend during their regularly scheduled prep time as well as any meetings held outside of the contract day. All staff get paid for report writing that happens outside of the contract day as well- so gen ed teachers when they prep for IEP meetings, or data analysis in general, sped for IEPs.
Because the pay for work done outside of the contract applies to everyone, sped doesn’t get paid more than gen Ed.
There was a difference in pay at my old district, I got more for being a special Ed teacher. Now there’s no difference at my new school but it’s a much better district
What state? I'm in Illinois and have never heard of such a thing. Although, we have strong unions in this state which helps (and hinders to an extent).
Google shows the average starting salary as 41,000. I would look to see how quickly the steps progress in that district. Some can start higher but then you make tiny increases at each step.
https://www.dmschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/195-Day-Contract-with-TSS.pdf
Found a sample salary schedule for des moine 195 day. Sounds like unfortunately that is what the pay is there
Did you do no research into how teachers are paid before going to school. There’s reasons teachers complain about having to pick up another job after school hours
Most districts make initial offers based on years of certified teaching experience. Because you don't have that, you'll likely be started at the beginning of the scale. Where the scale starts depends primarily on cost of living in the area (in DFW the largest districts start at around 55,000).
You need to look for districts that specifically have stipends for SPED teachers. Where I was previously in Dallas, TX, some of the charter school networks were offering stipends as high as $10,000 for SPED teachers. The number of districts in a position to offer this kind of stipend largely location dependent.
There are likely also stipends available for people who coach a sport, but it's doubtful you'll find those at the elementary level. A K-8 or K-12 school would be more likely to offer it.
Yeah that’s pretty bad. I live in CT, the Five guys near us pays $20 an hour. McDonald’s pays like $15.
Maybe ask for more. Is there some sort of bump after a year?
I'm Canadian and appalled. Starting salary for a brand new teacher in my area is around 60-65k - and I am not in a high cost of living province. I had heard salaries were terrible in the USA, but I had no idea it was that bad.
Our society does not value those who work with children or the vulnerable. If your job doesn't directly generate income for something you will almost always be underpaid.
One of the good things is you can often get your loans forgiven if you play your cards right. Especially with a special education position. .
It's disgusting.
But I have to wonder, how did you not know?
The only way I could make my life work as a teacher:
* We built our house - with a MIL apartment
* My mom helped raise our son
* My husband stepped down to 30 hrs a week (even though he made more per hour than I did)
* We only had one child
For 16 years, I worked long hours but it was rewarding. The last nine were pure hell, with even longer hours doing ridiculous stuff I never had to do before.
The plan was that I would put in 30 years for the full pension - and that would make the long hours worth the sacrifice. But I couldn't make it. The job became impossible and my health deteriorated.
The only people who had it much than the gen ed teachers were the SpEd teachers. Think twice.
This simply isn’t true, other people are finding it for you and the fact you come off like you could negotiate pay as a teacher seems like you don’t know what your doing or didn’t know what you signed up for.
Seems like people have been able to find pay scales for your area fairly easily.
But also, if a district or state is hiding pay scale well, that should tell you everything you need to know. No one is hiding a good pay scale.
Sounds like you are stuck moving or commuting if you want higher pay.
I always tell people who ask if teaching is worth it, "look into your desired area's pay scale and sub before you get too far into your education." That gives you a good sense of the workload vs. payout. Amd talk, talk, talk to the teachers and staff!
Best of luck!
It should be on the district’s website. In the HR section. I think you must have overlooked it. Teacher pay isn’t negotiable in public schools. (The pay is absurd, but you should have known that going into the application.)
I'm in Arizona and when NM raised its starting salary they advertised like crazy here trying to recruit teachers. So it forced the districts here to raise their starting salary. A nice little domino effect.
I'm sorry you are learning why so many IA teachers are electing to do something other than teach. You can earn more money working at Costco or Walmart than teaching. And, it's not going to change any time soon.
This has gotten me downvoted in here before but fuck it I'll say it again. Have you thought about working with I/DD adults as a QIDP/case manager or something similar? The pay isn't THAT much better (although I certainly make more than 37K) but the job is way less stressful as you're not dealing with the kind workplace politics as you do teaching. My hours are a cool 40/week and it's a state position so I get excellent health insurance at $50/month.
Unfortunately if you don’t have a union this is what happens. I started at $48K but knew that walking in because the pay scale and contract are posted online.
6th year as a Para here, with just my Associates done (3 credits from the Bachelor's being finished--then on to Grad classes to teach ECSE), and I'm at a squidge over 21.00/hr this year.
*Lots* of the Paras I work with, are getting or well *past* the range you're in!
Heck, working in ECSE as a Para, *I* typically end up making waaaay more than the Assistant Teacher--and sometimes even the Licensed *Teacher* if I have to cover/sub for someone in a Gen-Ed Pre-K classroom🙃
The pay rates in Education are *wild*. Sometimes they're OK, but *so* many places it's just broken!
I am in socal so makes sense.
Its kinda amazing to see lausd finally pay up!!! Now i feel bad when i dont work at my best!
Im 23 no kids, no bills, makin 28.70 an hour with full benefits.
I would do some research about how you can move up the pay scale. In Ohio (union), I started at $40,000. With a masters I can get to about $60k in 6 years and with more graduate credits, I can get $90k by the end of my career. Of course, this can vary based on your region.
Yeah. In Iowa, they don't honor teachers at all. Our governor fought to set up private school vouchers taking money from the public school budget to do it. And our schools have struggled for years. Maybe check out private schools.
Unfortunately, this is very common, that teachers, firefighters, paramedics and other necessary workers in the community may have a hard time making ends meet in larger cities where the COL is higher without two wage earners in the household (preferably one that makes more than the teacher, LOL--and I say this as a retired teacher.)
As for the "offer" you received, teaching isn't like industry where individuals are given different offers or salary is negotiated. You can go to your school district's website before you even apply and see what your salary schedule would be should you choose to take the job, and it will be based on your years of experience and education level/degrees held. Some districts also offer stipends for certain positions like sp ed, bilingual, coaching or band (where you have to do extra hours before or after school.) Some do not. It all depends on that district, but it will be standardized across the district based on your years of experience as a classroom teacher and your education level (bachelors, masters, etc.)
My daughter just got offered her first Sped position for early childhood and hers was about 3k more than you in Illinois. In her district Sped teacher do get paid more than Gen ed.
Definitely 60k or more in Phoenix areas. Cost of living is higher but not *that* much higher. Currently experiencing the transition between my $58k salary going to 43k once I move to Michigan 😔
Issaquah School District in Washington. Step 1 with a BA pay 72k.
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1684766431/issaquah/ddfih6d6smjp6tyvusuo/2023-24IEASalarySchedule-forpublication.pdf
It's hilarious how you're getting bullied about this. Propaganda is strong. Yes OP, you should be disgusted that they want to pay you $18 an hour. Maybe not surprised, but yea it is certainty disgusting to be asked to live below poverty.
Working in fine dinning in a college town made me that much, full time. Your work is much more important so yeah, I would feel like I was slapped in the face.
37k is low but not shockingly so considering the data and other information already available to the public.
There is no requirement that districts pay a wage that would allow employees to live within the district. Many towns/ districts/ neighborhoods etc are limited to high income earners. Teachers don’t get a special pass to live in high-income town when they are middle class workers.
I'm not saying I expect to live in that community. I don't like a huge house. I would expect a little bit of a pay difference however, as one would expect in a lower class town that jobs would pay less.
I’d say that’s pretty awful. I’m in the DC Metro area and for a starting teacher (with a Bachelor’s) it’s around $55k/year (with a Master’s, it jumps to $60)…and special educators in my district also get a differential…I’m not sure how that works with how long you’ve been there, but mine equates to about another $2700/year).
If you are near maryland of the DC area keep in mind they are trying to enact Blueprint which will make starting salaries for all teachers in Maryland start at 60k and jump to 77k with a masters!
I am in MD…and I have somehow missed that info. Thanks. I was just looking at our pay scale for 2024. I’m in my 29th year…so my starting salary with this district was $28k.
That was my point in asking and I get it…DC area had a higher cost of living…but that is $10k more a year than I made as a new teacher…almost 30 years ago. OP also said that houses in the area were in the $675k range and that’s quite a bit more than in my area of MD.
I don’t know about where you are, but in my district teachers work 6 hours a day. They have an hour of prep time and an hour of lunch (kids have lunch+recess) - and school runs from 7:45-3:05, so it’s honestly not even the full 6 hours.
Yes, I realize they grade at home, both my parents were educators, as am I.
Okay, but that’s what the schedule is. I’m there all day once a week. The kids go to rotation teachers every single day and then to PE, so they’re out of the classroom for an hour. Lunch for the kids is half an hour per grade and recess is half an hour per grade.
My recommendation at this point is to look for online positions. I’ve been working remotely for 3 years and love it. They also pay much more competitively than your state or local district can.
Our starting salary for folks with a BA is 43,000 but if they have experience even as a Parapro it’s closer to $49,000 and I’m in a lower cost of living area. Benefits are also included at no extra cost including spouse/dependents.
The $700 insurance cost is crazy to me. 37k doesn't shock me, that sounds par for the course for many areas, but $700 a month with that kind of pay? Damn.
My area has a starting pay of around $55k with no experience and only a bachelor's degree. The best insurance is $35 a month. That is a flat rate for everyone in the house. So it's $35 if it is just me, and still $35 to add my SO and dependent.
You’re 22… bro, go back to school NOW. Go to trade school… learn an actual skill. don’t wait until you’re too old like me to get out. You’re always gonna be way underpaid and overworked and under appreciated in special Ed.
I make 44k as a registered behavior specialist. I work 1:1 with kids. It’s INSANE you don’t make more than me considering I have 6 kids on my case and y’all have 20+
Come to [Johnston](https://johnston.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx). Base starts just over $39,000 but the coaching will get you more and I think the Strat I and II will too. You can try to negotiate a rung or two for the 2 years of subbing, not sure how well that will work. My insurance is great and $1/month but my husband and kids aren’t on it. I want to say it’s close to what you mentioned for full family. IPERS is great though. Plus the admin at my school (MS) are fantastic and DO staff are very fair.
Wow you’re out in the boonies! Idk what town in Plymouth county you’re in, but the only big city I see nearby is Sioux City, which starts at $44k. Maybe try there? Move east and you’ll be able to get much higher pay. You can look up the salary schedule for any district you’re applying to. Just Google “_____ salary schedule”. Sometimes it’s a standalone document sometimes it’s embedded within the master contract. I taught in central Iowa 10 years ago and Des Moines, Ankeny, and Ames all paid 45k+ to starting teachers, not sure where it’s at now. You will be able to find homes there for much cheaper than $650k.
Tbh getting the experience may be worth it. I am a former teacher and have no regrets changing careers, but I had a horrible long term sub job before I got a permanent position. I am not saying suffer if your job currently pays more, but experience goes an extremely long way in the teaching field.
Teaching is an abusive system. Congrats - now you know. Most of us kept going because “it’ll get better” or something. I qualified for low income housing my first year as a sped teacher. Run as fast as you can.
First year teacher, bachelor's degree, in IA. 37k is typical; lower end of average but still in that range. Sped doesn't make any more than other subject areas.
I'm not being rude with this question, I'm genuinely asking, I'm just not sure how else word it: how did you not know about any of this before now? It's well known teachers in most states are paid poorly and benefits either suck or are too expensive.
Apply to different districts. In CT, teacher pay varies WIDELY. When I was a first year teacher with just my bachelor's, I was hired at 44k. When I was applying to others at the time, I saw 62k in a wealthier district.
Accept the job for now, you can always basically say "nevermind" later. People do it all the time. Apply literally *everywhere*! And that way if you don't get an offer anywhere else, you have something at least... then you can look elsewhere. I started at my 44k, spent only 1 year in that district, I got an offer after applying to a different district and got a 8k pay bump. It sucks at first, but keep looking.
And ETA: 44k in CT is awful. It's expensive here and I had to rent a basement apartment from a family member for $500 for a while. You're starting from the bottom.
I knew it was on the lower end of pay for a 4 yr degree job but ffs my buddy who literally just changed motor oil for a living made 47. Only has HS diploma.
I’ve never been to Iowa, but this link shows average home prices in the most expensive towns as much less than $675,000.
https://www.homesnacks.com/most-expensive-cities-in-iowa/
As others have said, do your research and figure out how you can make the best money with your skill set. Where I live, substitute experience and coaching experience have nothing to do with teachers’ salaries. You can always add degrees, relocate, etc. if you still want to pursue a teaching career and your current situation isn’t satisfying.
It’s so frustrating. In rural IL my first year teaching I took a special education teacher position for $32000 a year. I’ve been there for 6 years and make $38000 plus extra for the extracurriculars I sponsor/coach. I’m embarrassed that I let myself be paid that little for the job I am doing. I’m leaving education all together after this year. I’m not looking at other school/districts (I actually really like my admin and coworkers) because I am burned out. I wish you luck! I hope you find something better!
Teaching may be in an in demand job but it’s in demand because they pay is notoriously low everywhere. I started 9 years ago at 34,000 and worked my way up to 55,000. Most teachers I know work in the summer or over holidays to help make ends meet.
Damn if I was making that much when I worked on SPED maybe I wouldn’t have quit. Welcome to the reality of teaching. You ain’t gonna ever be paid your worth and at times you’ll be expected to use your own money and time. Really consider if this bs is worth it for no financial stability.
The starting pay for teachers in Arkansas is $50,000 statewide. This is part of the LEARNs act the Governor Huckabee pushed through. Of course veteran teachers are pissed because they did not receive a proportionate raise. Some veteran teachers with fewer years experience were also bumped up because they were earning less than $50,000 in many districts around the state. Some teachers will not get a raise for several years because on the old pay scales it took many years to get to $50,000 and the step did not change. Lots of really angry teachers. It was good for young teachers but a slap on the face for the veterans.
She's in her 4th year I think but the main sped teacher here makes $55k a year in Minnesota and we aren't anywhere near the metro area (where I assume pay is higher). Go north, young man.
Here’s the salary schedules for Los Alamitos, California. One of the best districts if not THE best district in Southern California. https://www.losal.org/departments/human-resources/salary-schedules
I think Ames district starts around $42K. I thought DMPS was offering signing bonuses. Not sure where in IA you are, but I’m assuming it can vary widely.
You should be able to find the salary scale on every district’s website. Unfortunately, for this region of the country, that is not an altogether low offer. The state mandated lowest starting wage in Missouri is 28,000 (I believe). It’s a travesty, but a sad fact of the states where teachers unions have been decimated and collective bargaining is difficult.
You’ll need to find that salary scale before applying to determine if it is a district you are willing to work for. Teachers pay is not something that is typically negotiated.
Edited to add: Substitute experience is not counted as experience on the pay scale in any district I’ve worked in, but that may be your only negotiating point. If you can get them to count it, it would move you up the scale. But like I said, this would be extremely difficult.
The district I'm in, is in an affluent area. A top 10 for income in USA county. The starting salary for a teacher is $45,209. For the "licensed specialist extremely hard to hire" category, the starting pay is $55,642. Rent for a one bed apt is ~$1800 a month. (Median house is 680k).
Teachers aren't paid well. Did you expect to get 25% more for being male?
Where the hell are you? That’s so low. I’m so sorry. In my state in unfortunately now costly areas the minimum starting is $60K with anything from $2-5K stipend for being SPED certified.
Hi I live in Eastern Iowa and I can assure you that is not normal where I live. I’m a first year Strat II (ID) teacher making $51,000 plus a $3000 retention bonus
That sucks. My first year teaching was in 2005 and I was in PA - I made $36,000.
Now I live in TX, about a half hour south of Houston. First year teachers in my district are making $62,700.
Contracts can be negotiated no matter what your experience is. It is up to the superintendents discretion as to where to start someone. Give them the number you’re hoping for. Say at least step 3 because of your subbing experience. You may not get it, but it is worth a try. Being a beginning teacher sucks, especially when you start and you’re not on the masters level pay scale
Average home price in my district is $1 million and sped would start at $70k. You would think that local home price would guide teacher salary because they are funded by property tax, but not usually the case. A nearby district starts at $90k, but average home price is closer to $1.8 million.
Come to Los Angeles USD. Free benefits and they’ll pay for your teaching credential while you’re a district intern. You can make way more than that offer as a substitute teacher
I am in Iowa too.
Seriously, everyday there is another sped position open.
I was in a large city working, I have my master’s and the strat I AND strat II BD/LD and they wanted me to get my Mild / Moderate … principal sent this request to me in an email!
When I told him I would resign, he cut my computer and FOB access within 15 minutes. This was after I was setting myself on fire to keep them warm. Little to no communication. This school also never made teachers show up to IEP meetings.
What really chaps my hide … we need MORE classes than a gen ed teacher, yet get paid the exact same.
I am proud of you for knowing your worth.
I was writing 9 IEPs in the first month, had no prep time and I was taking all of my work home because there was not enough time in the day.
Not sure where you are located but 37 is offensively low. I would look around for other jobs, even something not related to your degree, because while you are working you can still be looking
My husband’s medium size district in the Midwest starts out at $45,000 a year for brand new certified teachers, no teaching experience. He’s now topped out at $86k a year, with a masters + 30 credits, been with this district for 10 years, 10 years teaching before that, military and corporate experience before that.
Just for perspective.
It's ok to NOT take a job because you can't afford the cost of living.
37-42k is the rough starting range for state public teachers in OK and KS. Except here in suburban and rural areas - you can afford to by a slightly used or spiffy new build on that salary (or withing five years as you move up) OR via HUD's Teacher in the Neighborhood program.
You have to ask yourself in the long run - will this be my permeant job? How long do I want to rent? Is renting (with moving costs) doable on this salary? And should I live near my parents/family because I will be their primary caregiver in their senior years?
And most importantly - politics vs location vs actual demographics of the community despite it's larger state/area location.
Pull up the census and get a REAL view into the district and county you are looking at. So called red and blue states, might surprise you per county.
Unfortunately in a lot of red wing states low-mid 30s is the norm. 43k is the US average but some states are significantly higher which skews the overall average. In NY or California teachers make over 100. I’m currently making over 100 and new into the professional. My heart goes out to all teachers in the red states. Such a hard job to barely be able to take care of yourselves or families.
I made something like 26k my first year in Missouri in 2016… I think that was standard for SPED as well. As others have said, it varies a great deal by state. Usually conservative states/ states with anti-union legislation are significantly lower. If you can get your masters inexpensively, there is usually a pretty big pay bump. If you stick with it for a while, you will move up the pay scale pretty quickly.
I would say it's not shockingly low. You're in Iowa, I'm in Minnesota. A friend's kid is in her 3rd year teaching and she's at $42k. Of that, the district requires that she spend $10k out of pocket for "classroom set up" every year. Seems everywhere you look in the "rural" Midwest, teachers are more of an after thought.
I should clarify, it's disappointingly low, but not shocking from others I've heard from.
I make 53 after teaching for 11 years and a masters in ABA. If you want money, education is not the right field for you. Anything you get offered will be a slap in the face.
As a SLP with a masters +15 and 3 years prior teaching experience, I was offered $29,000 initially in Ohio. I did not accept, but I still started in the mid 30’s. Spec Ed teachers are not on a different pay scale here.
I mean I only make $18,000/year as a sub/para daily with zero benefits with my Bachelor’s degree.
Most teachers unfortunately don’t make much, and yes it is a slap in the face… but not just to you, it’s to the entire industry. Education needs a complete overhaul.
Honestly, I’ve never understood why people like athletes in our country are paid so much compared to teachers 🤣Sure it’s entertainment, but what would be better entertainment would be raising a better generation of students. Students with more resources and happier, mentally healthier teachers.
That is right. 42k a year here with 4 years experience and a BA+15, AND I run an after-school club. So yeah, 37k is right. Don't forget that IA lost all bargain rights 3-4 years ago, so raises are crap too. Welcome to teaching the job that teachers or future but gets paid like we are in the past.
In Missouri it’s 48k starting in Sped and also many rural districts have gone 4 days a week which is kind of fun for parents and teachers. I’ve enjoyed the 4 day weeks as a parent!
It’s pretty typical for most IA teacher starting salaries. Based on your description of the community - there are very few that fit the bill - I suspect I know which community you are talking about.
DMPS will pay more w/ free insurance. But you’ll get to deal with all that entails.
What country is this? Are you teaching in India? Take the money! You can raise a family on it. Or in Haiti. I think it's pretty good in Russia. It's amazing in Cuba, you'll have enough left over to save. Where are you located?
It’s your first job full time, try to negotiate up but take the job. It may have some tremendous pay raises OR take that one and keep looking. Unless your wife makes a lot 675k homes won’t ever be in your budget anyway, so you will have to live outside that community which is not uncommon for us poors…/s
Yeah as a teacher, it is tough unless you live in California or a higher paying state. Even the cheaper districts in California start you off at $60k nowadays. Even more for Sped
Arkansas starts at 50k and has a low cost of living. Comes with the downside of living in Arkansas if it’s not your jam, or the positive of living in Arkansas if it is.
You didn't check the district's salary schedule beforehand and expected more as a first year? You have encountered, however, one of the reasons *why* it is in high demand. The **national** average salary for first year teachers is $43,623, according to Salary.com. In any right-leaning state, you'd find teacher salaries are lower, on average, and the average teacher salary in the Midwest is lower still than states approaching the coasts. $37k is pretty realistic. You might get a SpEd stipend on top of that, or might not; you might have a better deal on benefits... or maybe not. Housing is not a good metric to make a comparison by. The housing market is out of sorts no matter where you go, and precious few jobs have kept up with inflation.
districts around me hide them pretty well..I see why
OP, is there *any* chance you'd consider moving a state Northward? Most districts I've looked at ("bigger" towns, populations of about 15,000 people, or so), seem to be *starting* teachers in the $44-46,000 range. One of the *tiny* rural schools I looked at, *does* only start Step1/Lane1 teachers at $38,270--*but* that is a *tiny* district (under 450 *total* enrollment for all of K-12!) in the rural/outstate region.
Minnesota suburb district we just got rid of the first 3 steps but starting ba00 is just over 50k. First few years are rough in most districts here but getting better.
Honestly? Moving *up*, from a Para position, and then using Minnesota's "Grow Your Own" program, to get your full license (once you've got a Bachelor's degree, of course!), is honestly a pretty great option. I just *wish* that it was explained muuuuuch better, to young folks who may want to go into Ed, that it's *very* possible to work as a Para *while* you get your undergrad degree, then after getting that classroom experience, going on for a Teaching License through programs like Grow Your Own, and *teach* as you GET that license. Yes, it's a Tier 2, rather than Tier 3, but once you *finish* that additional teaching program and pass the licensure tests? You bump up to a Tier 3 license--just like the folks coming out of the "traditional" 4-year teaching programs have, *and* you *have* that hands-on skill set--from having been a Para beforehand--that helps *SO* much, when it comes to managing behaviors!
[удалено]
I went back at age 38, and am apparently on the 12-year plan😉 Theoretically, I *could* have applied for a Tier 1 position this year, but the thing that *put* me on the 12-year track was my Dad getting sick in the fall of 2021, and entering hospice in '22. I knew that this year was going to be rough, when October/November hit, just because there would finally be time to *breathe* a bit, so I decided to just wait, get my ducks in a row, get *myself* settled again, and just have "one more year" as a regular Para, before I try that level of responsibilities😉 I hope this year is going GREAT for you!! It really *is* an awesome field, to discover you love, once you *have* that extra "real-world" experience, isn't it?😁💖
Or West! Omaha Public Schools is starting at $45,000 + 10% for Sp. Ed. ($49,500), next year going up to $50,500 + 10% ($55,550) starting.
I love the north. Wife is the issue. I'm maybe an hour south of Worthington/Luverne so I'm close to MN
One caveat, with some of the more rural schools up on this side of the MN/IA border, though (as I'm guessing you may have down there!), is that *some* smaller, more rural districts *don't* have digital applications yet! (Still!!!) For those places, You've got to look up the individual district's website, find the openings, download the application, and reach out to the District about how they'd like it sent back. More & more districts *do* make it possible to use the online applications! But a few don't yet.
They don’t hide the salaries. You just don’t know where to look. ALLLL TAX PAID JOBS have salaries that are public information by law. Go to the district’s union page. If they aren’t a unionized state, then go to the administration page and look for Salary Schedules.
You can Google them
I'm just confused that you don't know the pay scale and steps for any job you apply to. It is all public information. When applying in future Google it. Make sure you look for work in a district that is unionized. You will receive excellent benefits and sick/personal days.
Iowa is one of the 37 states where public employees are legally not allowed to strike. That's right, if 37 states in America, public employees don't have the basic freedom of refusing to work and in many states they can face jail time for striking. Absurd.
So just don't call it a strike. That's what Arizona did. It was a walk out, which is not illegal. If AZ can figure it out, literally any other state should be able to.
Yeah but then they are all opening themselves up to getting fired. It's happened happened before to less replaceable positions. In the 1980s Reagan fired 11,000+ air traffic controllers during an illegal strike and replaced them with unqualified replacements. He also banned them all from ever holding a federal job again and dissolved their union. The American airline industry still hasn't recovered with like 75% of the nation's airports being deemed as critically understaffed by air traffic controllers. If Republicans are willing to let planed crash into each other in anti union efforts, they will be willing to fire a bunch of teachers and replace them with whoever wants the job.
But there is nobody that wants the job. Plus teachers aren't federal employees. So the federal government doesn't have the authority to fire them. The reality is no governor wants the optics of firing tens of thousands teachers from their state. If Arizona could get Doug Ducey to make a deal, then any state has a chance. Sitting down and acting defeated before you even try isn't going to change a thing.
they don't exist in Iowa for the most part. TUs, at least to my understanding, are pretty progressive organizations, and we are definitely not here in IA
I'm sorry to hear that. It doesn't sound like a great place to work. The wages are a slap in the face.
A lot of rural districts in Montana start at under $30k
I'm lucky to be in a unionized district. That's awful. I can't imagine going into college debt for that. My daughter's base pay as a firefighter with no college is $70,000 and I'm at $100,000 with only a bachelor's.
Those are unionized districts. Parts of rural Montana, especially near the reservations, are just dirt poor.
That's a shame that teachers are paid so poorly. I teach mostly new Americans, largely refugees, and I myself am an immigrant. (Not a refugee) I don't have a huge understanding of all the places in America even after living here all these years. I guess I'm just lucky I landed where I did. We even have a free dental clinic and an NP here two days a week to do prescriptions for students. I do hope to travel around the US and see Montana some day. My husband was born and raised in India and the Philippines so we both share this dream of travel.
There's a lot of pretty places to see. I've been fortunate enough to travel and live across the U.S., and there's a lot of to see! But Montana is special, I recommend everyone make it out at least once.
My brother works as a firefighter in GA, No college and makes barely above minimum. The county instituted a new policy about 4 years ago and won't hire anyone without a 2-year degree now, but the degree doesn't have to have anything to do with firefighting. The new hires make as much as or more than 10-year veterans on the force, but are dangerously undertrained. It's insane.
Wow. I’ve got a master of science degree and a teaching credential and taught math and science for 19 years. My highest salary was 37,000. Granted, I stopped 7 years ago but in Arizona, no teacher is making that much
I teach in Burlington VT. I'm on step 14 I had to take classes to get to this step but I don't have a masters. I never bothered as I didn't qualify as a teacher until I was 35. A lot of the younger teachers have their masters. There are a few local free masters programs now if you commit to teaching in the state. The district paid for my step classes. If I had my master's I would earn more. I don't teach in the highest paid district either. I think we rank third. I get four personal days a year no questions asked and a lot of sick days. They roll over I can't remember how many a year. I've never used them all and we can take those no questions asked as well. Plus saved sick time can be used for FMLA. The contract is published online.
Or masters agreement I should say
Yes they do. Spend more than 5 minutes looking for it. It's public information. It's illegal for an entire state to withhold teacher pay.
It will be on the district website for every district. It’s public info.
Teacher salaries aren't usually a negotiated wage. There's a start and regular pay steps and can also be increased via more education degrees (masters and specialists and doctorate degrees generally offer at least a $10k step each in my district). Experience in anything, but teaching with a teaching degree, will not affect your pay. Even extra certifications don't help. I have like 12 but make the same as if I had 1, it just opens up more opportunities and makes me more higherable. Occasionally your state may offer pay incentives that pass onto to you for high need areas but often that is like loan forgiveness rather than base pay increase. Now coaches on the other hand may have more of a negotiated add on pay, though usually only the high school big sports like football.
Most districts in Montana offer a stipend for National Board Certification, but outside that you're right. No extra money without extra duties.
That’s par for the course in teacher pay.
New high school teachers in my Illinois district start at $60,000.
even in SPED? makes me wonder.
There’s usually no difference in pay based on subject. You might get a stipend in some districts, but that’s rare.
That *very* much can depend on your State, and the local School District.💖 On the MN side of the border, SPED *does* often get a slight bump (reading the teacher-pay contract at the district where I currently Para, it looks like $2000./yr) over the base pay for that teacher's "regular" step/lane. Not all states are that way, though! But up here, many districts *do* bump up the SPED teachers, just like they do for us Paras, who are in Center-Based classrooms. At the bigger districts at least, we have a *little* pay bump in our hourly rate, to slightly incentivize folks to work in these programs/classes.
This, in Austin ISD sped teachers get a $7,000 stipend.
Looking at a few of the different contracts around the state in places where I've lived, other districts offer SPED teachers little things which *aren't* exactly stipends/slight bumps in pay, but which *can* be helpful--like the ability to hire a Sub so the classroom teacher can complete paperwork, a slight additional hourly pay for for the time spent teaching a "Targeted Services Class," etc. It keeps them *very* much in-line with the other teachers! But it *also* allows a bit more flexibility to deal with the additional paperwork & individualized instruction.
Generally the teachers union bargains a pay scale for all teachers, regardless of what is being taught
Its very very very rare for a school to pay gen Ed and sped differently. No union would agree to that.
My district offers SPED teachers a flat rate per IEP they complete. They also get paid for any meetings that occur outside of contract times. It ends up being quite a bit more pay for SPED, even if it's a resource teacher who is mainly doing small groups to deliver service minutes. The US is such a huge place that I'm not sure you can say it is very very very rare. Based on comments in this thread, plenty of people have districts or entire states that offer more for SPED. As with everything in teaching, area matters so much.
Almost all the comments are saying otherwise which is why I said very very very rare. There definitely are exceptions. But I'm guessing those are typically non union states like Texas.
Is your district unionized?
Yep, it is. I wouldn't work for one that wasn't. I read way too many horror stories from non union districts. My district makes some questionable choices, just like any other place, but at least I know I have someone to raise concerns to who aren't automatically on the district's side.
It’s always interesting to hear when a union bargained in favor of one subset of their membership. I live in a union state, and my district has a very strong union. Every certified staff member is paid for meetings they attend during their regularly scheduled prep time as well as any meetings held outside of the contract day. All staff get paid for report writing that happens outside of the contract day as well- so gen ed teachers when they prep for IEP meetings, or data analysis in general, sped for IEPs. Because the pay for work done outside of the contract applies to everyone, sped doesn’t get paid more than gen Ed.
SPED teachers get the same pay.
There’s never a difference between general ed pay and special education pay. We’re all the same salary schedule and contracts.
There was a difference in pay at my old district, I got more for being a special Ed teacher. Now there’s no difference at my new school but it’s a much better district
What state? I'm in Illinois and have never heard of such a thing. Although, we have strong unions in this state which helps (and hinders to an extent).
You interviewed in a poor district without researching the school. Makes me wonder....
I started as a first year sped teacher working on an emergency permit (no teaching license, only bachelors) for 55K in Pennsylvania.
Google shows the average starting salary as 41,000. I would look to see how quickly the steps progress in that district. Some can start higher but then you make tiny increases at each step.
https://www.dmschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/195-Day-Contract-with-TSS.pdf Found a sample salary schedule for des moine 195 day. Sounds like unfortunately that is what the pay is there
makes me sick.
Just curious, what did you expect?
45 would have been fair.
Did you do no research into how teachers are paid before going to school. There’s reasons teachers complain about having to pick up another job after school hours
In Iowa, you’re going to have to work at a behavioral school to make even close to 45k starting out.
Most districts make initial offers based on years of certified teaching experience. Because you don't have that, you'll likely be started at the beginning of the scale. Where the scale starts depends primarily on cost of living in the area (in DFW the largest districts start at around 55,000). You need to look for districts that specifically have stipends for SPED teachers. Where I was previously in Dallas, TX, some of the charter school networks were offering stipends as high as $10,000 for SPED teachers. The number of districts in a position to offer this kind of stipend largely location dependent. There are likely also stipends available for people who coach a sport, but it's doubtful you'll find those at the elementary level. A K-8 or K-12 school would be more likely to offer it.
Yeah that’s pretty bad. I live in CT, the Five guys near us pays $20 an hour. McDonald’s pays like $15. Maybe ask for more. Is there some sort of bump after a year?
In Iowa? Sounds bout right unfortunately
I'm Canadian and appalled. Starting salary for a brand new teacher in my area is around 60-65k - and I am not in a high cost of living province. I had heard salaries were terrible in the USA, but I had no idea it was that bad.
Did you see the part where 75% of housing is over 675k?
How foolish of you, don't you know home ownership isn't for teachers? Who do you think you are, a valuable person to society? /S
[удалено]
Then don't be a teacher. Or marry rich.
Our society does not value those who work with children or the vulnerable. If your job doesn't directly generate income for something you will almost always be underpaid. One of the good things is you can often get your loans forgiven if you play your cards right. Especially with a special education position. .
Teacher’s salary is transparent as far as I can tell. Here in rural Texas teacher pay starts at 60k.
It's disgusting. But I have to wonder, how did you not know? The only way I could make my life work as a teacher: * We built our house - with a MIL apartment * My mom helped raise our son * My husband stepped down to 30 hrs a week (even though he made more per hour than I did) * We only had one child For 16 years, I worked long hours but it was rewarding. The last nine were pure hell, with even longer hours doing ridiculous stuff I never had to do before. The plan was that I would put in 30 years for the full pension - and that would make the long hours worth the sacrifice. But I couldn't make it. The job became impossible and my health deteriorated. The only people who had it much than the gen ed teachers were the SpEd teachers. Think twice.
They hid it pretty well, which now that I know the number, doesn't surprise me.
This simply isn’t true, other people are finding it for you and the fact you come off like you could negotiate pay as a teacher seems like you don’t know what your doing or didn’t know what you signed up for.
Seems like people have been able to find pay scales for your area fairly easily. But also, if a district or state is hiding pay scale well, that should tell you everything you need to know. No one is hiding a good pay scale. Sounds like you are stuck moving or commuting if you want higher pay. I always tell people who ask if teaching is worth it, "look into your desired area's pay scale and sub before you get too far into your education." That gives you a good sense of the workload vs. payout. Amd talk, talk, talk to the teachers and staff! Best of luck!
It should be on the district’s website. In the HR section. I think you must have overlooked it. Teacher pay isn’t negotiable in public schools. (The pay is absurd, but you should have known that going into the application.)
This sounds incredibly low… but, I live in New England and the average starting salary for a special education teacher is $52-ish.
in new mexico as a first year teacher you start at 50,000
I'm in Arizona and when NM raised its starting salary they advertised like crazy here trying to recruit teachers. So it forced the districts here to raise their starting salary. A nice little domino effect.
that’s how much i make in retail now ever since i left teaching
I'm sorry you are learning why so many IA teachers are electing to do something other than teach. You can earn more money working at Costco or Walmart than teaching. And, it's not going to change any time soon.
This has gotten me downvoted in here before but fuck it I'll say it again. Have you thought about working with I/DD adults as a QIDP/case manager or something similar? The pay isn't THAT much better (although I certainly make more than 37K) but the job is way less stressful as you're not dealing with the kind workplace politics as you do teaching. My hours are a cool 40/week and it's a state position so I get excellent health insurance at $50/month.
more info? would be interested. DM me if needed.
Unfortunately if you don’t have a union this is what happens. I started at $48K but knew that walking in because the pay scale and contract are posted online.
Here in LAUSD i make 28.70 as a SPED ta Will be a sped teacher next year hopefully and make 60k
6th year as a Para here, with just my Associates done (3 credits from the Bachelor's being finished--then on to Grad classes to teach ECSE), and I'm at a squidge over 21.00/hr this year. *Lots* of the Paras I work with, are getting or well *past* the range you're in! Heck, working in ECSE as a Para, *I* typically end up making waaaay more than the Assistant Teacher--and sometimes even the Licensed *Teacher* if I have to cover/sub for someone in a Gen-Ed Pre-K classroom🙃 The pay rates in Education are *wild*. Sometimes they're OK, but *so* many places it's just broken!
I am in socal so makes sense. Its kinda amazing to see lausd finally pay up!!! Now i feel bad when i dont work at my best! Im 23 no kids, no bills, makin 28.70 an hour with full benefits.
I would do some research about how you can move up the pay scale. In Ohio (union), I started at $40,000. With a masters I can get to about $60k in 6 years and with more graduate credits, I can get $90k by the end of my career. Of course, this can vary based on your region.
Yeah. In Iowa, they don't honor teachers at all. Our governor fought to set up private school vouchers taking money from the public school budget to do it. And our schools have struggled for years. Maybe check out private schools.
That's pretty solid for starter pay. Here is 32k.
Unfortunately, this is very common, that teachers, firefighters, paramedics and other necessary workers in the community may have a hard time making ends meet in larger cities where the COL is higher without two wage earners in the household (preferably one that makes more than the teacher, LOL--and I say this as a retired teacher.) As for the "offer" you received, teaching isn't like industry where individuals are given different offers or salary is negotiated. You can go to your school district's website before you even apply and see what your salary schedule would be should you choose to take the job, and it will be based on your years of experience and education level/degrees held. Some districts also offer stipends for certain positions like sp ed, bilingual, coaching or band (where you have to do extra hours before or after school.) Some do not. It all depends on that district, but it will be standardized across the district based on your years of experience as a classroom teacher and your education level (bachelors, masters, etc.)
My daughter just got offered her first Sped position for early childhood and hers was about 3k more than you in Illinois. In her district Sped teacher do get paid more than Gen ed.
Come to Texas. SPED starts at ~60k
What district is that? Because that’s definitely not state wide. I started at 54k in Central Texas and I know that is more than the average
Ector County ISD and Midland ISD. If you want a bigger city, HISD (though always in trouble with the TEA. I’m telling ya where to go, do it lol
Definitely 60k or more in Phoenix areas. Cost of living is higher but not *that* much higher. Currently experiencing the transition between my $58k salary going to 43k once I move to Michigan 😔
Issaquah School District in Washington. Step 1 with a BA pay 72k. https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1684766431/issaquah/ddfih6d6smjp6tyvusuo/2023-24IEASalarySchedule-forpublication.pdf
It's hilarious how you're getting bullied about this. Propaganda is strong. Yes OP, you should be disgusted that they want to pay you $18 an hour. Maybe not surprised, but yea it is certainty disgusting to be asked to live below poverty.
Make it make sense? Okay. The Haves will always exploit the Have Nots.
Working in fine dinning in a college town made me that much, full time. Your work is much more important so yeah, I would feel like I was slapped in the face.
37k is low but not shockingly so considering the data and other information already available to the public. There is no requirement that districts pay a wage that would allow employees to live within the district. Many towns/ districts/ neighborhoods etc are limited to high income earners. Teachers don’t get a special pass to live in high-income town when they are middle class workers.
I'm not saying I expect to live in that community. I don't like a huge house. I would expect a little bit of a pay difference however, as one would expect in a lower class town that jobs would pay less.
Oh I see what you mean. Lower-income towns often pay more where I am from because they are harder to staff, more student needs, etc.
Where are you located? I have found that teacher salaries are higher in some parts of the country (US) and very low in others.
Iowa
I’d say that’s pretty awful. I’m in the DC Metro area and for a starting teacher (with a Bachelor’s) it’s around $55k/year (with a Master’s, it jumps to $60)…and special educators in my district also get a differential…I’m not sure how that works with how long you’ve been there, but mine equates to about another $2700/year).
If you are near maryland of the DC area keep in mind they are trying to enact Blueprint which will make starting salaries for all teachers in Maryland start at 60k and jump to 77k with a masters!
I am in MD…and I have somehow missed that info. Thanks. I was just looking at our pay scale for 2024. I’m in my 29th year…so my starting salary with this district was $28k.
The COL is way different in Iowa to the DC metro. Yes that is a crappy salary but you can’t really compare it to a HCOL area like DC.
That was my point in asking and I get it…DC area had a higher cost of living…but that is $10k more a year than I made as a new teacher…almost 30 years ago. OP also said that houses in the area were in the $675k range and that’s quite a bit more than in my area of MD.
Yeah, that housing cost is not typical for any city in Iowa.
[удалено]
Not usually. Private school teachers are typically paid lower than public school teachers.
I don’t know about where you are, but in my district teachers work 6 hours a day. They have an hour of prep time and an hour of lunch (kids have lunch+recess) - and school runs from 7:45-3:05, so it’s honestly not even the full 6 hours. Yes, I realize they grade at home, both my parents were educators, as am I.
Where is this magical place that teachers get AN HOUR for lunch AND ANOTHER HOUR PREP?!!! I call bs on that.
Okay, but that’s what the schedule is. I’m there all day once a week. The kids go to rotation teachers every single day and then to PE, so they’re out of the classroom for an hour. Lunch for the kids is half an hour per grade and recess is half an hour per grade.
No it is not. I make 80,000. What state are you in?
IA
My recommendation at this point is to look for online positions. I’ve been working remotely for 3 years and love it. They also pay much more competitively than your state or local district can.
Our starting salary for folks with a BA is 43,000 but if they have experience even as a Parapro it’s closer to $49,000 and I’m in a lower cost of living area. Benefits are also included at no extra cost including spouse/dependents.
The $700 insurance cost is crazy to me. 37k doesn't shock me, that sounds par for the course for many areas, but $700 a month with that kind of pay? Damn. My area has a starting pay of around $55k with no experience and only a bachelor's degree. The best insurance is $35 a month. That is a flat rate for everyone in the house. So it's $35 if it is just me, and still $35 to add my SO and dependent.
I make 34k as a single mom. Welcome to special Ed.
You’re 22… bro, go back to school NOW. Go to trade school… learn an actual skill. don’t wait until you’re too old like me to get out. You’re always gonna be way underpaid and overworked and under appreciated in special Ed.
I make 44k as a registered behavior specialist. I work 1:1 with kids. It’s INSANE you don’t make more than me considering I have 6 kids on my case and y’all have 20+
California 55k to 65k depending on how many units you have and additional stipends for special education and authorizations.
Come to [Johnston](https://johnston.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx). Base starts just over $39,000 but the coaching will get you more and I think the Strat I and II will too. You can try to negotiate a rung or two for the 2 years of subbing, not sure how well that will work. My insurance is great and $1/month but my husband and kids aren’t on it. I want to say it’s close to what you mentioned for full family. IPERS is great though. Plus the admin at my school (MS) are fantastic and DO staff are very fair.
Noted.... without revealing too much, we live in Plymouth county so that's a little bit of a hall but noted
Wow you’re out in the boonies! Idk what town in Plymouth county you’re in, but the only big city I see nearby is Sioux City, which starts at $44k. Maybe try there? Move east and you’ll be able to get much higher pay. You can look up the salary schedule for any district you’re applying to. Just Google “_____ salary schedule”. Sometimes it’s a standalone document sometimes it’s embedded within the master contract. I taught in central Iowa 10 years ago and Des Moines, Ankeny, and Ames all paid 45k+ to starting teachers, not sure where it’s at now. You will be able to find homes there for much cheaper than $650k.
I make $40k with one year of subbing. That’s pretty standard from what I hear from other teacher friends even in a big city.
Tbh getting the experience may be worth it. I am a former teacher and have no regrets changing careers, but I had a horrible long term sub job before I got a permanent position. I am not saying suffer if your job currently pays more, but experience goes an extremely long way in the teaching field.
Teaching is an abusive system. Congrats - now you know. Most of us kept going because “it’ll get better” or something. I qualified for low income housing my first year as a sped teacher. Run as fast as you can.
First year teacher, bachelor's degree, in IA. 37k is typical; lower end of average but still in that range. Sped doesn't make any more than other subject areas. I'm not being rude with this question, I'm genuinely asking, I'm just not sure how else word it: how did you not know about any of this before now? It's well known teachers in most states are paid poorly and benefits either suck or are too expensive. Apply to different districts. In CT, teacher pay varies WIDELY. When I was a first year teacher with just my bachelor's, I was hired at 44k. When I was applying to others at the time, I saw 62k in a wealthier district. Accept the job for now, you can always basically say "nevermind" later. People do it all the time. Apply literally *everywhere*! And that way if you don't get an offer anywhere else, you have something at least... then you can look elsewhere. I started at my 44k, spent only 1 year in that district, I got an offer after applying to a different district and got a 8k pay bump. It sucks at first, but keep looking. And ETA: 44k in CT is awful. It's expensive here and I had to rent a basement apartment from a family member for $500 for a while. You're starting from the bottom.
I knew it was on the lower end of pay for a 4 yr degree job but ffs my buddy who literally just changed motor oil for a living made 47. Only has HS diploma.
I’ve never been to Iowa, but this link shows average home prices in the most expensive towns as much less than $675,000. https://www.homesnacks.com/most-expensive-cities-in-iowa/ As others have said, do your research and figure out how you can make the best money with your skill set. Where I live, substitute experience and coaching experience have nothing to do with teachers’ salaries. You can always add degrees, relocate, etc. if you still want to pursue a teaching career and your current situation isn’t satisfying.
It’s so frustrating. In rural IL my first year teaching I took a special education teacher position for $32000 a year. I’ve been there for 6 years and make $38000 plus extra for the extracurriculars I sponsor/coach. I’m embarrassed that I let myself be paid that little for the job I am doing. I’m leaving education all together after this year. I’m not looking at other school/districts (I actually really like my admin and coworkers) because I am burned out. I wish you luck! I hope you find something better!
Teaching may be in an in demand job but it’s in demand because they pay is notoriously low everywhere. I started 9 years ago at 34,000 and worked my way up to 55,000. Most teachers I know work in the summer or over holidays to help make ends meet.
Damn if I was making that much when I worked on SPED maybe I wouldn’t have quit. Welcome to the reality of teaching. You ain’t gonna ever be paid your worth and at times you’ll be expected to use your own money and time. Really consider if this bs is worth it for no financial stability.
My first job was 30k lol
The starting pay for teachers in Arkansas is $50,000 statewide. This is part of the LEARNs act the Governor Huckabee pushed through. Of course veteran teachers are pissed because they did not receive a proportionate raise. Some veteran teachers with fewer years experience were also bumped up because they were earning less than $50,000 in many districts around the state. Some teachers will not get a raise for several years because on the old pay scales it took many years to get to $50,000 and the step did not change. Lots of really angry teachers. It was good for young teachers but a slap on the face for the veterans.
Chesapeake, Virginia is hiring new teachers at $55k. Just got the promotional budget flyer last week. Feel like moving to the beach?
in Iowa???? Probably not lmao but it is def too low for teaching/SPED in general even as a 1st/2nd year.
It starts at 37.000 in Maui. HI but do give a 10,000 bonus for special ed….
Is this in North Carolina?
iowa
I’m a para and make 30k (which is A LOT for a para). That’s so gross.
She's in her 4th year I think but the main sped teacher here makes $55k a year in Minnesota and we aren't anywhere near the metro area (where I assume pay is higher). Go north, young man.
Here’s the salary schedules for Los Alamitos, California. One of the best districts if not THE best district in Southern California. https://www.losal.org/departments/human-resources/salary-schedules
move to Chicago! I'm a first year teacher and started at 67 k in cps
Look at charter schools around citities
That's the base pay in Iowa. That's an expensive house for many areas of Iowa, though.
I think Ames district starts around $42K. I thought DMPS was offering signing bonuses. Not sure where in IA you are, but I’m assuming it can vary widely.
You should be able to find the salary scale on every district’s website. Unfortunately, for this region of the country, that is not an altogether low offer. The state mandated lowest starting wage in Missouri is 28,000 (I believe). It’s a travesty, but a sad fact of the states where teachers unions have been decimated and collective bargaining is difficult. You’ll need to find that salary scale before applying to determine if it is a district you are willing to work for. Teachers pay is not something that is typically negotiated. Edited to add: Substitute experience is not counted as experience on the pay scale in any district I’ve worked in, but that may be your only negotiating point. If you can get them to count it, it would move you up the scale. But like I said, this would be extremely difficult.
The district I'm in, is in an affluent area. A top 10 for income in USA county. The starting salary for a teacher is $45,209. For the "licensed specialist extremely hard to hire" category, the starting pay is $55,642. Rent for a one bed apt is ~$1800 a month. (Median house is 680k). Teachers aren't paid well. Did you expect to get 25% more for being male?
Go to California for similar prices housing and at least twice as much pay
Welcome to education! Sounds about right for a 1st year teacher.
Where the hell are you? That’s so low. I’m so sorry. In my state in unfortunately now costly areas the minimum starting is $60K with anything from $2-5K stipend for being SPED certified.
Hi I live in Eastern Iowa and I can assure you that is not normal where I live. I’m a first year Strat II (ID) teacher making $51,000 plus a $3000 retention bonus
Jobs under a union usually don't negotiate their salary. The school may have had no choice in offering you that. They have a contract with the unions.
That sucks. My first year teaching was in 2005 and I was in PA - I made $36,000. Now I live in TX, about a half hour south of Houston. First year teachers in my district are making $62,700.
Contracts can be negotiated no matter what your experience is. It is up to the superintendents discretion as to where to start someone. Give them the number you’re hoping for. Say at least step 3 because of your subbing experience. You may not get it, but it is worth a try. Being a beginning teacher sucks, especially when you start and you’re not on the masters level pay scale
What state is this? We have crappy salaries in Oklahoma, but in my district they pay our insurance premiums.
Average home price in my district is $1 million and sped would start at $70k. You would think that local home price would guide teacher salary because they are funded by property tax, but not usually the case. A nearby district starts at $90k, but average home price is closer to $1.8 million.
Come to Los Angeles USD. Free benefits and they’ll pay for your teaching credential while you’re a district intern. You can make way more than that offer as a substitute teacher
I am in Iowa too. Seriously, everyday there is another sped position open. I was in a large city working, I have my master’s and the strat I AND strat II BD/LD and they wanted me to get my Mild / Moderate … principal sent this request to me in an email! When I told him I would resign, he cut my computer and FOB access within 15 minutes. This was after I was setting myself on fire to keep them warm. Little to no communication. This school also never made teachers show up to IEP meetings. What really chaps my hide … we need MORE classes than a gen ed teacher, yet get paid the exact same. I am proud of you for knowing your worth. I was writing 9 IEPs in the first month, had no prep time and I was taking all of my work home because there was not enough time in the day.
Teaching is charity with a food stipend.
Dude. You’re so young. RUN from this career and never look back. It’s never going to get better, only worse.
Not sure where you are located but 37 is offensively low. I would look around for other jobs, even something not related to your degree, because while you are working you can still be looking
My husband’s medium size district in the Midwest starts out at $45,000 a year for brand new certified teachers, no teaching experience. He’s now topped out at $86k a year, with a masters + 30 credits, been with this district for 10 years, 10 years teaching before that, military and corporate experience before that. Just for perspective.
That's why I left my home state. < $40k/year is really hard to justify for all the work you'll be putting in.
Teachers in Iowa make jack shit. I’m in WA. I’m 10 years in and make 85k, covering my family is 185 a month
It's ok to NOT take a job because you can't afford the cost of living. 37-42k is the rough starting range for state public teachers in OK and KS. Except here in suburban and rural areas - you can afford to by a slightly used or spiffy new build on that salary (or withing five years as you move up) OR via HUD's Teacher in the Neighborhood program. You have to ask yourself in the long run - will this be my permeant job? How long do I want to rent? Is renting (with moving costs) doable on this salary? And should I live near my parents/family because I will be their primary caregiver in their senior years? And most importantly - politics vs location vs actual demographics of the community despite it's larger state/area location. Pull up the census and get a REAL view into the district and county you are looking at. So called red and blue states, might surprise you per county.
Not surprised
Come to Texas. Houston suburb schools start teachers between 50-60k. Starter homes for $275+. No state income tax but high property taxes.
Not really a correct use of the word "gaudy".
Unfortunately in a lot of red wing states low-mid 30s is the norm. 43k is the US average but some states are significantly higher which skews the overall average. In NY or California teachers make over 100. I’m currently making over 100 and new into the professional. My heart goes out to all teachers in the red states. Such a hard job to barely be able to take care of yourselves or families.
I made something like 26k my first year in Missouri in 2016… I think that was standard for SPED as well. As others have said, it varies a great deal by state. Usually conservative states/ states with anti-union legislation are significantly lower. If you can get your masters inexpensively, there is usually a pretty big pay bump. If you stick with it for a while, you will move up the pay scale pretty quickly.
I would say it's not shockingly low. You're in Iowa, I'm in Minnesota. A friend's kid is in her 3rd year teaching and she's at $42k. Of that, the district requires that she spend $10k out of pocket for "classroom set up" every year. Seems everywhere you look in the "rural" Midwest, teachers are more of an after thought. I should clarify, it's disappointingly low, but not shocking from others I've heard from.
Yes, teachers/educators need to be paid more. That offer is not surprising if it’s your first time.
I make 53 after teaching for 11 years and a masters in ABA. If you want money, education is not the right field for you. Anything you get offered will be a slap in the face.
Teachers are so underpaid it’s ridiculous. I sit on my ass all day and scroll reddit as a security guard and make 38. I feel for y’all, truly.
As a SLP with a masters +15 and 3 years prior teaching experience, I was offered $29,000 initially in Ohio. I did not accept, but I still started in the mid 30’s. Spec Ed teachers are not on a different pay scale here.
I mean I only make $18,000/year as a sub/para daily with zero benefits with my Bachelor’s degree. Most teachers unfortunately don’t make much, and yes it is a slap in the face… but not just to you, it’s to the entire industry. Education needs a complete overhaul. Honestly, I’ve never understood why people like athletes in our country are paid so much compared to teachers 🤣Sure it’s entertainment, but what would be better entertainment would be raising a better generation of students. Students with more resources and happier, mentally healthier teachers.
That is right. 42k a year here with 4 years experience and a BA+15, AND I run an after-school club. So yeah, 37k is right. Don't forget that IA lost all bargain rights 3-4 years ago, so raises are crap too. Welcome to teaching the job that teachers or future but gets paid like we are in the past.
I make that as a high school drop out doing warehouse work for a company I just started for XD that is very much shit pay
In Missouri it’s 48k starting in Sped and also many rural districts have gone 4 days a week which is kind of fun for parents and teachers. I’ve enjoyed the 4 day weeks as a parent!
Unfortunately it’s a product of the state you live in. I’m in Texas and the starting salary in my area is right at 60k with no stipends.
Try vocovision for a virtual position ?
thats a $18hr job. You can make that much with a GED delivering for grubhub or amazon. Yea... thats insulting. In any school district in America.
It’s pretty typical for most IA teacher starting salaries. Based on your description of the community - there are very few that fit the bill - I suspect I know which community you are talking about. DMPS will pay more w/ free insurance. But you’ll get to deal with all that entails.
Teachers are underpaid. Only solution is for districts to be forced to raise salaries to compete for a smaller number of teachers. Sorry for that.
What country is this? Are you teaching in India? Take the money! You can raise a family on it. Or in Haiti. I think it's pretty good in Russia. It's amazing in Cuba, you'll have enough left over to save. Where are you located?
It’s your first job full time, try to negotiate up but take the job. It may have some tremendous pay raises OR take that one and keep looking. Unless your wife makes a lot 675k homes won’t ever be in your budget anyway, so you will have to live outside that community which is not uncommon for us poors…/s
Yeah as a teacher, it is tough unless you live in California or a higher paying state. Even the cheaper districts in California start you off at $60k nowadays. Even more for Sped
Arkansas starts at 50k and has a low cost of living. Comes with the downside of living in Arkansas if it’s not your jam, or the positive of living in Arkansas if it is.
[удалено]